Greetings from Cleveland
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Oct 02, 2007 
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Here we are in Cleveland, waiting to head over to the Jake to see the Indians and working on some stories for tomorrow’s paper.
If you have time to listen, here’s a 15-minute long interview that Alex Rodriguez did with the beat writers on Saturday at Camden Yards.
I waited to post it for several reasons, the main one being that the New York writers arranged the exclusive session and I didn’t want to make the interview available to other publications before we all had a chance to use it. Competitive as we are with each other, we do work together when it comes to things like this.
A-Rod was a pretty good subject on this day, more relaxed than usual and I believe more candid. He talked about his season, the playoffs and the future. So give a listen:
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Back later with reports from the workouts.
A-Rod continues to be relaxed, that’s a good sign. Expect something big from him in the playoffs!
From Page Six: THAT Yankee playboy Derek Jeter’s current flame is gorgeous actress Gabrielle Union…
“NY Times blog post on A-Rod”:http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/.....-of-a-rod/
Someone recently posted a link to a funny Mets t-shirt with the slogan, “You Gotta Bereave!”
Could someone please re-post the link, so I could torture the Mets fans in my fantasy hockey league with it?
AmosEyes
I think “this”:http://www.tshirthell.com/stor.....ductid=997 is what you’re looking for…
They just said on the Fan that Joe Nathan is going to be a free agent after next year. Solid closer who grew up in NY.. Who knows how things would shake out with him and Mariano on the same team, depends on how Mo’s next season goes… and Nathan’s 32… but he’s solid.
Was Joba on WFAN?
jennifer, nope… Unless I missed it, they didn’t even mention that he wasn’t going to be on.
Torre’s on with M&MD at 2 though.
I was really moved by the interview. Alex sounds like he’s so happy after being so miserable on his own island. I hope he really is at peace now. And that he realizes that the only place in the world he can be happy is in New York. With the New York Yankees. With his championship rings.
He does sound happy, but I don’t think it’s just him. I think the whole team is happier and there is more of a bond between them. I think it’s a combination of many things, like the younger players, A-Rod’s coming to peace with himself and changing his attitude, Clemens’ return, possibly the players who feel so loyal to Torre feeling like they don’t want to let him down, and then the special things, like Joba. All those things, coupled with fighting and winning their way back after the all star break, has just bonded them together I think. I feel very good about this post-season, and I hope Alex is a Yankee for a very long time. GO YANKEES!!!!
I too hope A-rod stays in NY forever. I never had a chance to truly appreciate what he can do until he came to us. one thing is certain, if he does opt out and leave, we as Yankee fans need to take a long look at how we treated him last season.
asmoseyes the website T SHIRT HELL.COM is selling them too.
Hey, I think this guy posts on here from time to time.
You have to read his latest entry addressed to Mets fans. It’s very funny. He calls them the “Me-toos”
http://theyankeesrepublic.blogspot.com
Thanks Pete!
When I used to hear A-Rod interviews I used to feel uncomfortable for him. This is a completely different guy. Sounds like once he stopped trying to get people to like him, he found out they did. In the last 6 months, Underdog became Superman.
A-rod’s not going anywhere. The A-Rod “situation” that everyone used to say was just not the right fit now seems more like a perfect match. Hopefully nothing that happens this month will change that and I expect him to have a great post-season regardless.
From what he said at the end of the interview, he seems to have learned to have something guys like Mariano credit as crucial for success, a very short-term memory when it comes to small failures.
Great interview.
i hope a-rod can relax . just enjoy the moment just like he did all season long . good things are coming for a-rod . bigger money and the bigger contract .
It’s been said on here before and it is true that A-Rod must feel like he is a part of this team. He was ostracized a bit last year but he seems on the same page with his teammates this year. The biggest example of unity was when he was hit by Josh Towers in Toronto. Clemens came back and plunked Alex Rios to stand up for A-Rod. Nobody would have stood up for him last year.
Senor A. Boy, not that I should give a damn but Union in the last 2weeks has been w/ Ne-yo, Hill Harper, etc. … more NY paper gossip over facts.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn.....e=arod2007
Don’t know if anyone posted this, but it’s a great read of the web that Jackson and Steinbrenner weaved and how Alex is stuck in it.
Keep thinking Arods staying, Remember his wife with the saying on her shirt? He’s good as gone. It seems quite clear that everyone forgot how he got bood in Yankee stadium last year. HE did not.
“Sounds like once he stopped trying to get people to like him, he found out they did.”
Great assessment.
Giami has the deer in the headlights look
October 2nd, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Keep thinking Arods staying, Remember his wife with the saying on her shirt? He’s good as gone. It seems quite clear that everyone forgot how he got bood in Yankee stadium last year. HE did not.
————————————————
oh shut up Jason !
I still think he’ll do exactly what Scott Boras tells him to do come November. It sure would leave a sour taste in my mouth if he opts out and pins the Yanks against the Angels and a bunch of mystery teams, “just” for a few million dollars that will cost the Yanks an extra $21 million (the Texas money).
Yesterday and today feel like the calm before the storm.. Not just the game, but the flurry of activity that will be on every sports show and newspaper..
Oh man this is exciting!
Ah, Giami (not sure who Giami is, but I think GiamBi hunts deer), A-Rod hasn’t forgotten, he’s accepted it as part of playing in NY, as he has accepted the cheers of those same 55,0000 fans every day this year.
Even Jeter got booed at one point. A-Rod’s not going to leave because he was booed when he played poorly. Seems like he was harder on himself than any booing he got anyway.
Great interview. Some really good questions – a little beyond the usual.
It’s still not a slam-dunk he stays in NY, though. He did make the distinction between business/personal. That’s for another time.
I had the same reaction as Pat — you used to squirm during his interviews, but this one just felt more comfortable. Interesting how that comes across even without video.
sorry
How “WE” treated ARod last year? I have been angry at NYY fans for over a year for how they treated ARod. He’s been a way above average player on his “down” years and 3/4 of the stadium was booing him when he would get out and pretend it didn’t happen when Jeter did the same thing. If he leaves because of bad feelings from NY it’s because plenty of morons are mad because he didn’t get a HR at an important time when 99% of the other players would have failed too.
I think the unity also has to do with cashman. He got rid of the sour a$$es that were the Unit and sheff. It seemed like last year A-rod always seemed to be around sheff which we all know he is known as a selfish player. Sheff acted as if was a leader but was the total opposite,making comments to the media that kept stirring up problems in the clubhouse. Now it seems like A-rod has mixed in with the other guys and Doug m. has also seemed to help(doug high sox,A-rod went with high sox).
Gotta be the high sox!!
The A-Rod leaving talk. Still nothing as boring or more of a time waster.
good post sos27
Mel -
Wow — long article, but good. Also left me feeling a little blue. I have a feeling that more people did not boo ARod than did, but as is usually the case, it’s the squeaky wheel that gets noticed.
One thing, though, I hate that these playoffs are going to turn into a referendum on ARod. What he does, when he does it. The whole backstory is going to be whether he leaves or stays. It’s getting really tedious.
Mel
Thanks for the ESPN link. Good read. The Kevin Millar quote was too funny. Maybe he sent Mrs. Rodriguez the infamous tank top.
Question here: If the Yankees meet the Angels in the ALCS, who will have home field advantage?
Angels we were the wild card. We would only get homefield in the world series.
I believe the Angels, I don’t think Wild Card teams can have home-field until the World Series.
LGV The Angeles would the only time the Yankees will/would have the home field is if they get to the World Series
SOS -
Don’t forget Alex and Dougie grew up together and played HS football (Alex was QB and Dougie was his wide receiver). I think Dougie has certainly helped Alex feel more comfortable.
http://thesportshernia.typepad.....d-car.html
A good bit on the Wild Card hat that’s being sold.
Joe on in a few minutes on WFAN.
Apparently the Orioles released Victor Zambrano and Jaret Wright.
_One thing, though, I hate that these playoffs are going to turn into a referendum on ARod. What he does, when he does it. The whole backstory is going to be whether he leaves or stays. It’s getting really tedious._
and not to mention the non-yankee fans that will only look at this. can you imagine an unlikely combination of events where the yanks win the world series, but a-rod opts out and leaves anyway? other fans would never let up…
Doesn’t it go by best record? If not, why were they selling home game 4 tickets to the ALCS?
Either way, we won’t have homefield advantage because we have the same record as the Angels, and they win out because of our losing head-to-head record with them.
Read the comments, there is one in particular that really ticked me off.
On espn 7 of 10 so called experts are picking Cleveland in this series. The most important pick of all offcoarse is the one of 7 that went to Phillips.
He just made us a lock to get past the first round.ALCS HERE WE COME.
Who brings us better luck the squirl or Phillips always picking against us?
SOS – Enjoyed your comments! I just can’t hardly wait for Thursday!!!
Chris -
The tickets went on sale before Boston clinched the East, so technically we still had a shot at winning the division and having home-field at some point.
11.6 million dollars was awarded!! WHOA!!
Jennifer, I saw what you’re talking about. Some people are just wasted space.
“It sure would leave a sour taste in my mouth if he opts out and pins the Yanks against the Angels and a bunch of mystery teams, “justâ€? for a few million dollars that will cost the Yanks an extra $21 million (the Texas money).”
that’s kindof naive.
if he opts out and signs with the Yankees after they were forced to pay market rate for his services, i won’t hold it against him.
remember, he OWNS the option. the Yankees traded for his contract that included the option. if the Yankees are trying to hold back that Texas money and not pass it through to him, he should opt out and get every penny he has coming to him.
hopefully the Yankees see it the same way and pass along the money from Texas in the form of a very lucrative extension.
remember, that $21M belongs to Alex Rodriguez. it does not belong to the NY Yankees.
Yeah and only one person called them out!
Hey Chris NY – Having Joba, Nathan and Mariano in the same bullpen would be a VAST contrast from the past several years, wouldn’t it?
After the post-season of course … let’s see if they go for Nathan, and then let’s see if they convert Chamberlain to the ‘pen next year.
I know I’m getting too far ahead of myself here but would the Twinkies let Nathan AND Santana get away at the same time? To the same team? Odds are against it but … ya never know.
MJL,
Thanks I forgot to mention that. I hope we can bring back Doug for another year. Maybe that will solidify us keeping A-rod for good.
Ranting guy, they might have a choice, don’t know if they can afford them…
I don’t think the Yankees reverse course on what they’re saying about Joba being a starter next year, but you never know. It’s tempting, but I think when we see Joba starting we’ll be happy he is, even as exciting as it is having him come out of the pen.
might not have a choice I meant…
Jen/Sherri – Just saw the comment. Some people are just unbelievable cruel. And ignorant.
(I’m surprised there’s such a hat, though. Can’t imagine anyone wanting to wear it.)
I think he is gone. Why would anybody want to stay where you get treated like a dog for 3 years from your own fans. The only reason he wasn’t hammered on again this year is because he put up numbers that nobody can touch. The last laugh is always the loudest.. and boy he must be laughing real hard right now.
I’m not sure what we can put more value on from Mientkiewicz- his slick fielding or his friendship with A-Rod. It is probably impossible to put into words how much good that it does for A-Rod to have Minky around as a stabilizing influence. Good points from S.o.S. 27 and MJL.
SOS -
I’d love to see Doug back next year (and obviously A-Rod). It’s too bad Doug got sort of cheated out of a full year because he got hurt, but I really like his style of play and he plays like a Yankee every game. Sure he’s an offensive liability but everyone knows this team has plenty of offense and Doug is better than any other team’s 9-hitter. A scrappy guy like him does a lot for a team, I hope Cashman feels the same.
Joe on now, hopefully we’ll get some dirt!
Torre on WFAN now
I can’t imagine the Twins would trade Nathan, certainly, not if they trade Santana.
And incidentally, for the Yankees to compete with the Dodgers and Red Sox offers– especially if the Red Sox offer Ellsbury and Buchholz– Cashman is going to have to offer Hughes or Kennedy (I assume they won’t trade Joba under any circumstances) and probably, Tabata or Austin Jackson, and another player.
(The Mets, too, will make an offer– proposing at least Milledge, Humber or Pelfrey, and perhaps, Gomez as well.)
The Dodger would appear to have the most young talent to offer the Twins. The question is whether Santana wants to play in LA and in the NL and would agree to a long-term contract extension.
I see no reason to trade for Santana or pursue him as a free agent.
Thanks Jeff. Listening to the webcast now. Look at the guest list after him: Omar Minaya & Bud Selig. I’m sure that Torre’s the happiest of the bunch!
we weren’t talking about trading for Nathan, they said on the fan earlier that he’ll be a free agent after next year. thinking more about getting him as a free agent, but who knows if he’ll stay pitching at a high level, he’ll be 33 or 34.
Nathan went to High School not far from where I grew up, never knew him, but would be cool to see a local guy pitching for the Yankees. There are a few others that I played football against in high school, but none of them have made much of a splash.
Doug reminds me alot of Brosious, more valuable than his numbers show. Like you mentioned a scrappy player,does the little things and grinds it out every game. Him and Melky are two players that I can accept batting under the 270 mark being what they bring to the game on defense. I for one dont care if Doug runs away and hides with the ball that won us #27. As long as we win it, he can have it.
Sorry, I vehemently disagree you with MJL. If Santana is available, the Yankees should pursue him. He’s probably the best starting pitcher in the AL.
If Joe is seriously considering playing Duncan instead of Matsui, then he should play Duncan in LF and DH Damon.
Duncan has an infinitely superior arm and he acquitted himself well in the few game he played in RF.
Jacobs Field does not have a treacherous LF like Yankee Stadium does.
Santana going to the NL could pay huge dividends for him. If he doesn’t lose his stuff suddenly or get injured, he may be in position to chase a magical number of victories.
did Torre just say Moose or Hughes would be better suited to come out of the pen if Clemens needs early relief?
Vehemently…wow. Kill Schill, do you work in the Tampa offices?
Roger a go for game 3. Threw 70 pitches it went well, will meet them in Clevland tonight.
With Wang, will go with defense likely meaning Doug starting at first with Damon in the outfield.
Kennedy in Fla, headed on Sat to get married, will be back in Fla on Sunday.
Hughes a go if needed.
Game 3 unknown who would go if Clemens couldn’t go. Most likely Moose.
Don’t know Chris, but I caught him say that for a spot start Moose has good numbers against Cleveland.
Joe just threw a kind of back handed comment at Omar. Said when we were going thru our problems the begining of the year I was fortunate to have my GM behind me.
Cute, MJL. But believe or not, a few people, just a few, outside the Tampa office, think pretty highly of Santana and covet him. I’m surprised, quite frankly, you feel the way you do. It’s one thing not to want to surrender too much young talent for him, but as a free-agent, why not?
No to Santana
1.Arm’s about to fall off
2.Gave up a considerable amount of homers this year.
Yes to Peavy
1. Young and 07 Cy Young
2. Free agent at the same time
yes,even with him not having a good game.
I would be o.k. if we just stuck with our young pitchers as well.
Jennifer- Ouch, I bet that one stung for Omar.
jennifer,
Missed that part. I just was thinking earlier that the Yankees and Mets teams had flip-flop seasons. We were fortunate that we had time to do something. Omar had a presser the other day and was talking about how this team never was in a pennant chase (b/c they won so easily before) and that it was a mental grind and he pointed out that Reyes played a 161 games or something. But the main thing is that they didn’t play with urgency until it was too late. And the funny thing is that Boston almost did the same thing. Cashman has been brilliant with his personnel moves this year, only paying top dollar for Roger and that goes beyond starts, wins, and losses.
Even though he paid a fortune for Roger, I think the reasons were good. Cash knew he had all these young pitchers, and who better to inspire them and get them going rather than Mr. “Tough All Day”? If this is to be Clemens last hoo-rah, where else is there better to do it??
edit – * Clemens’ *
Jennifer
I noticed that dig at Minaya too. Mike got a big smirk on his face when Joe said it. He knew exactly what he meant.
wasn’t Mientkiewicz away from the team for several months?
this perceived “good influence” on A-Rod is imagined.
he wasn’t even around the team from 6/3 – 9/1.
Dougie has been hitting over .400 since he’s been back from the DL. Not exactly an “offensive liability.”
hmmm,
That didnt stop him from being an influence. One thing you didnt know is that they had the family share plan, so they kept in touch daily.
pat- Joe did it in a clever way. I’m sure he and Willie speak all the time and Willie must have complained that he doesn’t have his GM’s support.
hmmm
I agree on Mientkiewicz. In spring traing he may have been a comfort factor- although I doubt it. A-Rod seems to have found his way on his own this year. I’d like to see Dougy stay for his defense not because A-Rod needs a babysitter.
the comments at the sports hernia blog are ridiculous. they used to be a lot funnier. now people are being bitter and throwing meaningless insults around.
the one most of you saw actually has a blog he links to. a pretty bad one at that. and i’m probably the last person who should critique a blog… haha.
Minky was probably instrumental as a buffer in the beginning of the season. As the other guys warmed up to Minky, then his good buddy Alex gets in on the teasing and fun. The thing is that Alex was probably able to put his guard down and forge those relationships he talked about. Loved the part of the ESPN article that Robbie and Melky follow him around like little chicks.
That George King and that NYPost.. what do they have against ARod.. King’s questions were all designed to put ARod in a corner “how can u say u had fun when u failed in past Octobers” … maybe we if we see King at a restaurant having a hearty dinner.. “hey how can u have fun and be happy.. when u right crappy stuff”
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/.....#topOfList
Get the vote out!
*not right… write
nathan,
Did you notice how Alex kept referring to George by name when answering his questions? Nice tactic. And, Pete, were there more than one female -interrogators- reporters? That female voice asked a lot of questions.
i put the indians last and the red soxs second to last.
yankees followed by the Phillies.
bah, i need speakers at work
maybe it’s time to get some headphones
I know I have to wait till I get home too!
Nathan
I don’t know if you read the espn article linked above but it said after the Post ran the Stray Rod pics, A-Rod did not differentiate Post sports writers from those who write gossip and cut back access to George King-who he had a good relationship and other Post writers. Wonder if that is where that line of questioning stemmed from? No matter, he handled the questions well.
When George King asked that question, ARod should have just said “Next question. Please make sure it makes some sense and is worth answering”.
Kate -
No, but I would call a .271 career hitter with 64 home runs and 372 RBIs an “offensive liability.”